Photo Credit: Iplt20.com (BCCI)
Cricket has always cherished stories of redemption, but few are as poetic as the one Shreyas Iyer is scripting in IPL 2025. On a night loaded with pressure and expectations, he didn’t shout, argue, or complain. He simply hit four towering sixes in the penultimate over, guiding Punjab Kings to a thrilling win over Mumbai Indians, and in doing so, delivered a deafening response to the Indian selectors who dropped him from the Test squad.
With that blistering finish, Iyer led Punjab Kings to their first IPL final since 2014. A decade of heartbreaks, rebuilds, and inconsistent campaigns were wiped clean in a matter of six deliveries. Iyer didn’t just captain a team—he inspired a transformation.
Over the years, Shreyas Iyer has earned a reputation not just for his composed batting but for his strategic brilliance as a leader. And now, he’s in a league of his own. He has become the only captain in IPL history to take three different franchises to the final: Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, and now Punjab Kings in 2025. That’s not luck—that’s leadership.
The victory against Mumbai wasn’t handed on a plate. Punjab were under pressure, the required rate was climbing, and the match was slipping away. But Iyer, with trademark poise, turned the tide with a calculated onslaught—silencing critics, pundits, and perhaps even the national selectors in one unforgettable over.
His omission from the Indian Test squad for the Bangladesh series had raised eyebrows. Few could understand the logic behind excluding a player known for his temperament, technique, and ability to perform under pressure. But instead of getting drawn into the noise, Iyer chose to let his bat talk—and talk it did, in the most emphatic fashion.
This journey to the final is not just a victory for Punjab Kings; it’s a triumph of resilience. The franchise, rebranded and restructured, has often been seen as underachievers despite having talented squads. Under Iyer’s captaincy, they have found direction, belief, and fearlessness.
As the IPL 2025 final looms, regardless of the result, one thing is clear: Shreyas Iyer has already cemented his legacy this season. He has answered his critics, elevated his team, and reminded Indian cricket that true leadership doesn’t need microphones—it needs moments. And he has delivered them in style.
The selectors may still hold the pen, but Iyer owns the script.
